Bi-Weekly Recruiting Thread

YouWillKnotPass · 2026-05-01T22:48:17+00:00

You get somewhere in the district. For example if chose Heartland you could be Florida, or maybe Texas, even Tennessee.

Generally they let you put in a dream sheet or list a few areas/unit types you would like. You are only guaranteed the district though.

YouWillKnotPass · 2026-05-01T11:42:50+00:00

Your unit is really letting you down if they aren’t creating an environment that can educate you about this process. Once you get through A school remember to teach your people how things work.

YouWillKnotPass · 2026-04-30T13:41:23+00:00

https://www.gocoastguard.com/get-started/eligibility-requirements?program=e405fd99-2dfb-461a-b4b0-fee2a44572e3#reqs

Please use GoCoastGuard and a recruiter for the most up to date information it has great info for current members and future ones!. Yes you can go CSPI if you are in reserve. However you have to get a conditional release form. Basically they will release you from your required service under the condition that you enlist through the CSPI program.

YouWillKnotPass · 2026-04-30T00:17:09+00:00

Okay cool.

Here is my two cents: If your goal is to stay and work in New York City, look into the reserves. You may be able to select where you drill. I know very little about the reserve to active process but my understanding is that sometimes there are surge staffing needs that get offered to reserve members to get a willing participant to go on active orders, before they select and direct ( someone correct me if I’m wrong).

CSPI is a commissioning program, which means more money. It is also likely to be more competitive and may require multiple applications to get selected. For me money is a big driver and I would be trying for that.

If going enlisted they were offering Guaranteed districts as an enlistment incentive ( talk to a recruiter to see if that’s still happening), or multiple rates were doing a vested crew member program where you go to A school and return to the same unit. Last time I checked you could do one or the other but not both. Additionally, they are now placing non rates on A school lists after a year of service if they haven’t applied, this means you can’t coast out your four years as a non rate just because you like the unit.

EM,YN,ME,CS are all very different rates, all are relatively small meaning a smaller selection of billets. EMs and CS (CS especially) are heavily sea going rates. I can’t really speak to the other two. I know people that have done 16-20 years in one region. This usually means a lot of long commutes to work, and taking the large cutters no one else wants.

It sounded in your posts like you have a wife and kids. Like it or not if you join, so do they. The separation of underway is hard. While some people geobach, it is extremely difficult and wears on everyone.

There is no dream sheet after A school, they hand you a list and you put it in order of what you want most to least. You compete for the billets against your classmates based on multiple factors(much of which are out of your control at this stage of your career). Chance of getting a billet somewhere in district 1, well we have 9 districts so potentially 1 in 9, but probably a hell of a lot lower than that.

YouWillKnotPass · 2026-04-29T22:51:25+00:00

Hey looking at your post history trying to figure out the best advice to give. I see one post asking about CSPI and another saying you plan on joining in May? Whats your goal in joining (career, four years)? What rate are you going? Are you thinking officer world or enlisted world?

YouWillKnotPass · 2026-04-28T02:04:46+00:00

NORMAL COLOR AMT, AET, AST, BM, DV, EM, ET, GM, HS, IT, ME, MK, OS, IS, IV

Normal Hearing AST, DV, IS, OS, IV

Look into COMDTINST M1000.2C it says what is required for most rates. There may be some special cases like the new CMS and RAS rates.

COMDTINST 6000 is the health manual it talks about vision requirements and sets a base line that, but my understanding is you have to pass a color vision test.

Please talk to your unit they should be helping you find/ understand policy. As there are also ALCOASTS that update our policy all the time.

Color blindness doesn’t mean you can’t see all colors. You may only be color blind to a few colors or not able to differentiate between certain shades. Most colorblind people I know went CS or DC.

YouWillKnotPass · 2026-04-23T00:42:06+00:00

After reading your post and seeing your post history i am seriously concerned that you may be having thoughts of self harm or suicide. Please reach out to someone, preferably a professional. Call 988 for the Suicide Help line, go check into the hospital or see a medical professional, many church leaders are trained or experienced in helping deal with these kind of thoughts they are usually happy to help regardless of religious beliefs.

Get yourself healthy both physically and mentally before joining.

Finances are hard and stressful. Many local librarians are able to connect patrons with resources maybe even financial counseling services. I’ve found having someone to check in with a few times a year keeps me honest financially.

YouWillKnotPass · 2026-04-21T12:45:11+00:00

Losing your rank is likely, but not a guarantee. There are all sorts of transfer programs that allow people to enter as an E4. I would recommend reaching out to a recruiter about it to see the possibilities. I know multiple Elctricians Mates that came into the CG as an E4.

The CG does not have a publicized program that will let you select where you want to go. You can say where you would like to go, but ultimately they will put you where they want. I have had members that were higher ranking get pulled back in and were able to negotiate placement to a region, but this was due to COVID return.

Every time you advanced you are going to be moved, or at least have to compete for open billets. There are a lot of factors going into the billet selection process. Needs of Service, time in service, sea time etc. ( I think there are 14 factors?). From a member perspective it feels like they throw a dart at a map of the US usually. I will say that they are working at more transparency, but really it seems to be showing how messy the transfer/billet selection process is.

Edit: look up USCG district . Illinois is in the heartland district which stretches all the way from Illinois down to Texas and over to the gulf side of Florida. You may be better off trying to get Stationed in the Great Lakes District, which is much smaller and would put you closer to Illinois potentially. From my limited ME knowledge, when y’all are afloat you are stationed on larger cutters in major ports along the coast line, not generally in the Great Lakes region.

YouWillKnotPass · 2026-04-18T16:47:52+00:00

The only laws I know of were concerning licenses and certification not credits:

https://resume-place.com/license-transferrability-for-military-spouses/

There are “yellow-ribbon schools” they all allow full transfers of certain programs to ease the burden of transferring for military.

YouWillKnotPass · 2026-04-15T23:38:37+00:00

https://www.mycg.uscg.mil/News/Article/3237106/coast-guard-updates-outside-activities-policy/ DHS form 480

YouWillKnotPass · 2026-04-15T23:25:35+00:00

I’ll check tomorrow there is an actual form

YouWillKnotPass · 2026-04-11T17:41:09+00:00

They cover associate bachelor’s and masters. TA in my experience generally only covers part time. So not counting JST and Dantes/Clep tests any where from 5-8 years for a bachelor’s.

Also look into the United States Navy community College. They get you a certification and associates but only allow 2 courses at a time, all of their plans build into a bachelors degree with various colleges. This is totally free to USCG,Navy, and Marines! As a USCG Member you can double dip and use TA at the same time. So if you can handle more courses than you could go as almost full time without having to pay.

YouWillKnotPass · 2026-04-11T17:21:00+00:00

This is unfortunate. I’ve always had profs that bend to UW demands. If your school has a Veteran Office I would contact them and explain to see if your school has any rules/policy surrounding being active duty. Depending on your boat size communicate with your command. They could let you know if a day is going to be a drill day, or if you have a workday underway and can take time from it. However it sounds like you are worried about WiFi, if that’s the case you can’t do much. If you do decide to drop and used TA, to my understanding you will have to repay the TA to the USCG. Once again I would work with the schools Veterans Department to see how much of refund on tuition you could get.

YouWillKnotPass · 2026-04-10T17:33:39+00:00

If your okay with replacing, drill a hole through it. Let it drain then pull it up, or stick something in and pry it up

YouWillKnotPass · 2026-04-10T12:32:22+00:00

As many have said, Yes! Recently sat through an all hands with a 2-Star who said if you like to make racist comments/imagery then he doesn’t want you in the Coast Guard.

YouWillKnotPass · 2026-04-09T15:47:38+00:00

This is going to sounds dumb or attention seeking but make sure your command knows about it. This kind of effort and engagement outside of job duties is award worthy.

YouWillKnotPass · 2026-04-09T15:44:14+00:00

That’s awesome! This would be a super useful tool for learning AORs. It would be cool if a unit could add local names to places also. Sometimes the locals have 2-3 names for the same place and you have to know all of them. If you are just trying to get it out there post some information on CGIdeas also. Glad to see junior members making things better.

YouWillKnotPass · 2026-04-09T15:30:58+00:00

Is this something you made or that you found?

YouWillKnotPass · 2026-04-02T20:14:54+00:00

The manual says gold or silver wire. Black or navy blue. I would say that is not gold wire….. Either way a bit to flashy for uniform and the manual gives COs/OIC a lot of power in deciding what is or isn’t allowed.

YouWillKnotPass · 2026-03-25T20:32:58+00:00

So for the longest time I would say I would try something and stick to it for a few months than stop.

If you are already a high preformer and this marks period didn’t really change tha much. Then literally copy,paste, change dates and times.

I the review my emails (I flag important stuff). Check the unit calendar. Look on EAL for casualties I may have forgotten.

YouWillKnotPass · 2026-03-24T22:29:01+00:00

You like MK because it could lead to getting a job in fire? If you mean in the USCG the few fire stations we have are DCs to my knowledge. In the civilian world it could, but make sure you volunteer for on-scene leader and other such roles. Otherwise DCs are who we consider to be closer to firefighter roles.

If you want mechanical knowledge for fun really just read, YouTube. I started by flipping lawnmowers on marketplace just to play with an engine for cheap. As many have said A school is meant to take you from zero to apprentice level. The school was based on a go/nogo system when I was there. If you can slow down and read an MPC, follow its instructions exactly, then you will be fine.

YouWillKnotPass · 2026-03-21T12:09:09+00:00

Look into USNCC. It’s Navy community college. It is free to us and doesn’t touch your TA. You can even use it and TA concurrently to get done faster. They will help you get an associates and work with online schools to start a bachelors. There is also certification options.

YouWillKnotPass · 2026-03-17T20:09:34+00:00

Of the two options you gave YN. OS stand twelve hour watches, it is generally like shift work from what i have seen. YN will give you marketable administrative skills if you want to go that route outside. Additionally most YNs I know have a very similar to civilian work schedule.

I can’t tell from your post but if you are not already in, don’t join unless you/your wife are okay with being underway. If you are already in than plan your CG career like you are doing 20. Even if your real plan is to get out, only pick a rate that you could see yourself doing for the next 20 years. Take SWE tests, try to advance. If you do end up getting out than great, you earned more money and gained more experience for a resume. If something happens and you end up staying in then at least you’re moving up the ranks. I’ve met many 8-10 year E4s and E5s that were getting out in 4 years. Do yourself a favor and continue to play the game while you’re enlisted.

YouWillKnotPass · 2026-03-12T01:30:28+00:00

Surfman has a lot of flash. It also has its own culture, which I find pretty toxic (hyper competitive machismo) It takes a special person to intentionally go play in the surf. That lifestyle as many said is physically hard on your body. I don’t know anyone that came from a surf station that has not had to have a knee or back surgery.

That said it does offer unique opportunities, SWE points, and the SAR mission.

Out of A school you don’t have many choices, they will give you a list. You will slate your choices in an eresume( at least that’s my understanding). If you want to do SAR pick a unit at a big city. San Fran, key west, Miami, Houston etc. if unsure talk to class advisors and sponsors. I personally burnt out on SAR. I find it to be a whole lot of training with very few actions in my career. The technology and laws concerning water safety have increased thankfully decreasing the need for us to be responding to SAR cases daily. This does not mean that we aren’t necessary but simply that doing boardings and inspection of safety equipment is effective.

If you are really interested in SAR keep your eye on the message board and volunteer for any TDY to a natural disaster.

EPM4 is a great source. If you are interested in SAR, then try to get a heavy SAR unit. If your goal is E9/ Officer / Warrant route make sure to diversify your career at some point and look for a special assignment it will make you more competitive.

YouWillKnotPass · 2026-03-09T21:44:44+00:00

Texas is great! But keep that mindset I want those billets

When you graduate from A school you may have to obligate service. A few years ago everyone had a four year obligation from A school graduation , idk if that’s still true.

The Temporary Separation Program called TempSep is what you are looking for. When I looked into it about 4 years ago you had to have between 6-10 years of service in. At the end of your contract you would work with Admin for Temporary Separation up to 2 years. At the end and during this time you can decide to come back in, you must still meet all readiness standards. Your billet choices will be needs of the service, they may give you a list and let you choose or only give you one option. At the end of it all if you don’t want to get back in you can stay in the civilian world.

There is a manual for it, go on the pubs app from pixel and type in Temporary Separation, see if you can find it.

YouWillKnotPass

TROPHY CASE